Fantasy Democracy in Brazil
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org – Home – Stephen Lendman)
No Brazilian presidential candidate won a majority of the vote on Sunday.
On October 28, hardline Social Liberal Party (PSL) candidate Jair Bolsonaro will face Workers Party (PT) aspirant Fernando Haddad, the runoff election to determine Brazil’s next president. More on this below.
In 2016, the Obama regime orchestrated the ouster of democratically elected Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff – a political coup d’etat to install illegitimate fascist rule.
Despite no evidence linking her to wrongdoing, she was impeached in April 2016, ousted from office in August.
US favorite Michel Temer was illegally installed to serve out the remainder of her term – despite a Sao Paulo court having found him guilty of corruption, declaring him ineligible to run for political office for eight years.
It wasn’t enough to prevent him from becoming Brazil’s interim president, nor removing him from office once installed.
Rousseff’s illegitimate ouster permitted a US-supported criminal cabal to take over Latin America’s largest economy.
Hardline neoliberal tyranny replaced democracy in the country, a wish list for markets and investors implemented at the expense of fundamental freedoms and social justice.
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is Brazil’s most popular political figure. He served as president from 2003 – 2010.
He led in opinion polls to win another term in office next year this year – until charged, prosecuted, convicted, and sentenced to 9.5 years imprisonment on trumped-up corruption-related charges.
His lead attorney Valeska Texeira Zanin Martin, said “(n)o credible evidence of guilt has been produced, and overwhelming proof of his innocence blatantly ignored,” adding:
“This politically motivated judgement attacks Brazil’s rule of law, democracy and Lula’s basic human rights. It is of immense concern to the Brazilian people and to the international community.”
Dark forces in Brazil and Washington wanted him prevented from winning another presidential term.
A rigged tribunal banned him from running, followed by the launching of a “Lula on the ballot box” campaign – promoting Workers Party vice president Fernando Haddad to run for president in his stead.
With 98% of Sunday ballots counted, Bolsonaro had 46.4% of the vote, Haddad second with 28.7% of the tally.
According to GloboNews, turnout was 61% even though voting in Brazil is mandatory.
Addressing supporters Sunday night, Haddad called for a high October 28 runoff election turnout, warning of continued tyranny if Bolsonaro succeeds Temer.
His campaign featured fascist, sexist, racist, homophobic rhetoric.
His running mate retired general Hamilton Mourao suggested a military coup is possible, adding “very well elaborated plans” in place for the military to intervene against what he called “illicit acts.”
He and Bolsonaro praised Brazil’s 1964 – 1985 military dictatorship, a dark period when countless numbers of regime critics were kidnapped and murdered.
Following Sunday’s election results, some failed aspirants expressed support for Haddad.
Third place finisher Ciro Gomes rejected Bolsonaro, tweeting: “Doubtless not him” – the campaign slogan opposing him for his undemocratic views.
Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL) candidate Guilherme Boulos tweeted: “Now we will go to the streets to defeat fascism and to elect the person who represents democracy in the second turn: Fernando Haddad. #NotHim.”
With Bolsonaro just shy of a Sunday triumph, Haddad faces long odds to defeat him in two weeks.
A Final Comment
Illegally ousted Dilma Rousseff failed to win a Minas Gerais state Senate seat in Sunday elections, coming in fourth with 15% of the vote.
Since removed from office, she’s toured foreign cities and delivered addresses at major Brazilian universities. Her Sunday loss disappointed supporters.
VISIT MY NEW WEB SITE: stephenlendman.org (Home – Stephen Lendman). Contact at [email protected].
My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."
